coupling up

As the weather turns colder, there is no notion I like more than Sean and I each grabbing a kid to embark on some cozy adventures for two.  These mittens and slippers are offering some seriously great inspiration.

{I spotted the mittens on M Stetson Design and the slippers on Handmade Charlotte.}

giverslog

Have you visited the site giverslog?  Holy Smokes, guys.  It is such a fantastic resource.  Amber has built the most beautiful site all around great gift giving.  She is immensely talented and her tutorials, gift guides and roundups are worth gold.

I was so honored that Amber asked me to kick off a new series of interviews on - what else - great gifts. Head over to her site to check out some of my favorite gifts - given, received or dreaming about.  Thank you, Amber!

{Oh, and I think you guys will be thanking me soon for sharing this phenomenal resource!}

{images: a stack of photos: a class in calligraphy: a trip to France, a vintage book: flowers in a jar}

anniversary gift

This is the anniversary gift that I made for Sean.  I haven't framed it yet but you get the general gist.  It was our seven year anniversary so I purchased each "love stamp" from the past seven years.  This was not nearly as easy as I thought it would be.  It wasn't even easy figuring out what the correct stamps were.  Someone should definitely come up with an organized stamp chronicling site, just sayin'. 

I decided to use the little envelopes to illustrate what vagabonds we have been during the course of our marriage.  Seven addresses in six years, that's serious.  So each year's love stamp corresponds with the address that we occupied at that time. 

The final envelope reads "forwarding address: home is with you. wherever that might be."

(This is actually going to be one of a three part series, more on those soon.)

mail: a song in D minor

Some people wait several days before they get their mail. They let it accume-u-late. Every few days it suddenly dawns on them that perhaps there might be something in the mailbox. I cannot relate to these people.

To me, the daily mail is akin to Christmas Morning. There are few words every spoken through time that have the same magic as – wait – Christmas Morning. It’s like fairy dust has just been thrown about. That’s how I feel about the mail.

Now mind you, my mail probably looks a lot like your mail, most of the time. 5 out of 6 days I just add it to the kindling, ya know? But candy toned envelopes lettered with swishy scripts? Nary a one. Lottery checks, love letters, brown-paper-packages-tied-up with-string? Nope, nope, and nope.

So why the fairy dust hallucinations?

To be honest, I’m not exactly sure, but I'll try my best to explain.

First off, there’s just something hopeful about the whole thing. Who knows what might be lurking in that box. All we really know is that it’s smaller then a bread box, or technically, a mailbox. And even though it may not be filled with candy colored paper goods, it could. One day, it might. Now this line of thinking may seem terribly depressing to you, but to me it’s happy & hopeful.

And there is the other thing. Some days there are some wonderful surprises within. If you had friends like Anne and Nicole and Tawny, or parents like Jim & Kathie you would know just what I’m talking about. Some days it really is just like Christmas Morning.

Anne likes to send me little trinkets when she is out and spots something that reminds her of me. How does one get friends like this? I’m just grateful someone thinks of me at all let alone showers me with objects of love.

This week Nicole was getting rid of some stuff in her house and wrote me to ask if I might want a particular book. She send it packed beside the loveliest labels and hand towel. I’ve never met Nicole before.

Tawny. Well, I'm not sure where to even start. And I don’t want random passer-byers to solicit friendship with her just to get the goods but suffice to say that she does spoil me something awful. A couple of days ago she sent me a small bottle of perfume. It’s called Song in D Minor. Did you know that a scent could be named something so achingly beautiful? She chose it due to the picture of a little caged bird that you can see through the clear glass. She’s well aware of the emotional season that I have been in as of late. She knows I’m that bird. She’s reminding me to sing.

Oh, and it’s a combination of the notes white orchid, orange flower, gardenia & amber.  If that doesn’t deserve a song… well, it’s just totally intoxicating, that's what it is.

So perhaps now you might be starting to see why I have a thing for the mail.

Catalog of Love

I am already plotting when & how I can use this idea that I spotted over at Poetic Home.  Grace came up with the idea of re-purposeing a old wooden card catalog box as a perpetual anniversary gift for her husband.  What a great way to record special dates, favorite quotes or poems, and even the mundane "Pouring just one cup of coffee started my missing you all over again" - that I was thinking this very morning.  The little moments and large all cataloged away for future reference. 

You can use this handy Catalog Card Generator to get you started. 

Truefitt & Hill

I have been trying to come up with a good Father's Day for Sean and was reminded of a little spot that we had checked out back when we were considering getting married in Chicago.  Located at 900 North Michigan, tucked away high-up and to the back, is the U.S. outpost of the world's oldest barbershop.  Not just that, but Truefitt & Hill has also been staffed as the court barber to the British Royal Family. 

Our thought at the time was to send our groomsmen there on the morning of the wedding for a nice hot lather shave and a trim.  The male version of a spa day.  We never did any of this as we didn't marry in Chicago but it could make for a great Father's Day gift.   The "Duke of Edinburgh" package includes a hot lather shave, a half hour stress relief massage, a haircut, manicure & shoeshine.  And all of it in restrained, royal style, I'm sure.

Easter 'baskets'

My mom is the creative type.  She does everything with a ton of flair and loves to throw in a twist.  Growing up this made for some seriously great Easter baskets.   Really the term basket is a misnomer here, as what we received rarely came in a basket.  Rather, she would think about what we were "in to" at that point or perhaps a significant event from that year -  and then all of our easter loot would be housed in something pertaining to the inspiration point.

The year that we got a swimming pool we each received an inflatable inner tube that served as the "basket".

Other years it was a wheel barrow or bike basket.  Hats, helmets, cleats, roller skates, boots, umbrellas, sand buckets, baseball mitts, backpacks.  I think you get the idea. The possibilities are endless and it's really a lot of fun. Both for the giver & the getter.  Right, Mom?

my family, my journey: an adoption baby book

As I mentioned yesterday, we are knee-deep in our first adoption.  I actually began this blog as a "distraction" from the looong adoption process.  And I had though that the nine months of pregnancy were never-ending. Adoption had miraculously transformed my perspective on that!  We are about a year in to what may be nearly a three year process.

Well, truth be told - I got a call yesterday from our agency and they said we were on schedule to receive our child sometime between a year from this September to December.  We keep telling everyone that it will be two years yet, but months keep passing by and we really can no longer say  "two years out".  Still - it's difficult for me to utter the reality.  I can't admit getting nearer.  I refuse to let my heart engage in that way.  I have heard too many awful stories...

And yet, I find my self inching closer to that place.  I'm considering going ahead and buying our baby's keepsake book.  I've chosen this one shown here by artist Susie Ghahremani.  I so love the illustrations & the feel of it and of course, that the contents are specifically geared to adoption stories.  

If you know someone in the adoption process, this could make the perfect gift.  A place to allow them to inch closer to their baby in their hearts before its home in their arms.

You can find them here. 

If you would like to read about our adoption journey, you can find it here. 

Rust Designs

I am loving all of this personalized dinnerware by Rust Designs.  They may become our go-to place for wedding gifts. 

One Heart Studio

Speaking of good hand-lettering: Remember my friend Katie, with the exquisite taste?  Well, I had the honor of being one of her bridesmaids. And along with the utter loveliness of the entire weekend, she gave me the most beautiful bridesmaid gift I have yet to come across.  It is a simple wooden box, painted black.  Hand written on it with gold paint are a series of quotes that are meaningful to our friendship.  There is a little note from Katie inscribed in the inner top lid.  The bottom of the box is signed & numbered by the artist.  I have had this book for years and still every time I see it I smile.  I love how thoughtful and personal of a gift this is.  Many trinkets are set aside the day after the wedding but this box I will keep and value always.  

Caitlin Dundon, the artist behind One Heart Studio, offers many colors for both the boxes and script allowing you to truly personalize this gift.  I have since given these boxes as gifts and love to come up with meaningful text to accompany it.  I am still wanting to get a letter box for Sean with our vows inscribed on it.  Perhaps for our ten year anniversary.  And I can stick the watch in it. 

Max Bill* mechanical men's watch

I have been admiring this watch for years.  I think it is the most beautiful men's watch.  Every major holiday I ask Sean - "Can I get you the watch?"  He has yet to say yes.  (He loves it too, he's just the type that feels loved when I don't spend money.)  One day I'm gonna sneak up and give him this watch, loving him well all the while.  Just not the way he likes it. 

*Max Bill was a Swiss architect, artist, painter, typeface designer, & graphic designer.  Dreamy.

Jonathan Adler faves

We live in the middle of nowhere and don't have too much culture around us. There's lots of things that I will glimpse online but I rarely have the chance to see in person. So though all things Jonathan Adler may be the norm in some circles, they are not in mine and I was excited to get to see the store. Though lots of his stuff is not my style, there is plenty about his aesthetic that intrigues me and enough items that I really adore. Both Sean & I ended up liking the store more then we anticipated. I had to drag myself out of there to leave empty handed.

Here are the top 5 things that made me swoon:

1. two of these Morrow slipper chairs, please:

2. this chandelier:

3. these sconces for the kid's room:

4. We wanted to get an "E" and "S" for our bed. The backside is black with white needlepoint.

5. I liked this little cozy to get my new iPhone safe and warm. Santa surprised me with this great phone. I didn't know how much I should have wanted it! (I know, I know, it's not exactly back to the basics. Sometimes I lose my way...) If it helps, I don't think that I'll be purchasing this cozy but it has inspired me to make my own.

O wonderful day!

{We have no water today and cannot cook, shower or flush...the gifts still sit wrapped under the tree...and yet it has still been and still will be - a wonderful day.}

Merry Christmas everyone!

{image from the Nativity Story}

Amaretto

When I saw this recipe on In(side) the Loop's great blog, I decided to whip up a batch of Amaretto to go with the cranberry liquor that I made for my sister. This recipe is so yummy and so easy. It was a breeze compared to the cranberry liquor.

Homemade Amaretto

3½ cups sugar
1 tbsp. instant coffee
1 oz. almond extract
5 tsp. vanilla extract
5 dashes Peychaud's bitters
1 fifth [about 25.6 ounces] of vodka

Dissolve sugar in 2 cups boiling water. Add instant coffee and stir until completely dissolved. Remove from fire and stir in remaining ingredients. Be sure to taste, but consider yourself warned when you're making this at 9AM.

{yummy in cocoa, champagne, amaretto sours & lots more…}

I can't keep a secret

I tried to keep this a secret from Sean but just couldn't.  I am having Vanille Patisserie deliver a box of french macarons to our hotel while we are in the city.  It' kind of funny because neither Sean nor I have ever tasted a macaron before, but we are both dying to.  You can only see so many pictures before you are like...get...in...my...mouth.

I'l let you know what we think.  

The owner of Vanille, Dimitri Fayard, is from France, of course and is suppose to be one of the top pastry chefs in the US.  I had him throw in a couple of his caramels with salt.  

 Yum.

a french Bulldog for the 12th day of Christmas

I'm going to go ahead and past the final "day of Christmas" post today too, as tomorrow I will be flying the hopefully friendly skies.  

As my final wish on my wish list, I would like to add one of these furry friends to our family. My mother likes to tell me that a dog would destroy my previous post, the lovely crewel rug. But for this face, I might, might be able to forego the rug.  

As it may be, I don't like to spend a lot of money on things.  Nearly always, the item or type of item that I like is the expensive kind.  Why is that?!  

French Bulldogs are not cheap.  My guess is that if this little guy doesn't show up on a sleigh, he won't be showing up at all.  

But at least then, I could get my rug.  Just looking for the silver lining.

Does anyone know how French Bulldogs do with chickens?

{images from: Dog Breed Info, Kevin Colden, 321 dogs}

Anthropologie for the 11th day of Christmas

Have I ever loved a rug more?  I think not.  If is far, far more beautiful in person.  It is all delicious crewel work and though I love many rugs of this style, this one in particular has stolen my heart.  

You can find it here. 

teacher's gift

We went through lots of ideas before we decided upon a monogrammed pen as a gift for Mrs. Daw, E.'s teacher. Granted, it's not super exciting but we liked the one that we found, it writes great, it was a good price, and I am a sucker for anything that can be monogrammed.  

The company is called Retro 51 and they're tag line is "Life is too short to carry an ugly pen."  I don't know about that, but the pen is cute and old-school looking.

We decided to monogram the pen with "Mrs. Daw" rather then her initials as it seemed sweeter since that's what her students call her.  I was a little nervous about this and hope she doesn't think we just couldn't remember her name. (!)

We love you, Mrs. Daw.

Homemade Cranberry Liquor

Each year around Thanksgiving, my extended family draws names to determine the person that they will buy for that Christmas.  For years and years we did a "real gift" and a "gag gift".  That tradition ended on a sour note and included something to do with an {read: my} ex- boyfriend and a {read: again, my} future spouse.  It was not funny and it quickly ended the gag gift tradition.  Many years have past. This year I had the 'genius' idea of suggesting that we again give two gifts to our person.  A purchased gift and a handmade gift.  As soon as everyone agreed, I quickly remembered that I don't know how to make anything.  After much anguish I decided on what to make for my sister.  Cranberry Liquor.  I mean really, how can you screw up sugar, vodka, & cranberries?  Doesn't it have to be good?

Well, it has been stewing or festering or matriculating or whatever homemade liquor does, for days.  And I just had a little sip.  

It is good.

In case you are wanting to whip up something festive at the last minute...here's the recipe.  This could become an annual tradition. 

I bought some swing-top glass bottles from World Market and the whole thing just looks very sweet and again, festive.  The color of the liquor is beautiful.  

I'll just go grab one more small sip. 

{image from MishaM}

Orla Kiely for the 10th day of Christmas

As promised, a lovely Orla Kiely bag.  Just what I like. Hints of Simple. Classic. Modern. Organic. 

You can find it here.